Through a partnership with Washington State University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are developing new ways to make its Operational Technology Assurance course, sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration, more realistic for attendees.
The partnership resulted in development of a mock vintage-style glovebox, used daily by NNSA scientists to manipulate hazardous radioactive material, that students in the course can gain hands-on practice with, the NNSA said in a statement.
Developed and delivered by PNNL, the course teaches tools, techniques, and practices that reduce the risk of cyber compromise to operational technology within the Nuclear Security Enterprise. The course was offered seven times in 2023, with more than 140 students from within the nuclear weapons complex completing it, the NNSA said in a statement.
PNNL’s cybersecurity researcher Christian Perry, nuclear engineer Ben Kowash, and materials scientist David Koch looked for a way to integrate multiple generations of technology that participants use every day into one immersive training program. With that goal in mind, they turned to WSU’s Industrial Design Clinic to design, fabricate, and deliver a realistic mock vintage-style glovebox.
In December, the WSU team delivered the project for the OTA course, a glove box with a sample transfer port and two glove ports and several mock testing systems within. Now in lab hands, the system will be wired and rendered operational to support the course curriculum, NNSA said.
